Political Punch

Obama Taps Labor Expert To Head Council Of Economic Advisers

ABCNews.com — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:30:00 -0400

ABC News’ Mary Bruce (@marykbruce) Reports: President Obama today announced that he is nominating labor economist Alan Krueger to lead his Council of Economic Advisers, saying he expects Krueger to provide him with “unvarnished” advice on the economy. Ahead of...

Obama On Irene: 'It's Going To Take Time To Recover'

ABCNews.com — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:23:33 -0400

ABC News’ Mary Bruce Reports: In the wake of Hurricane Irene, President Obama said today that “it's going to take time to recover from a storm of this magnitude” and vowed that the federal government is doing everything in its...

The Presidential Planner: After The Storm, Obama Spends Day In White House Meetings

ABCNews.com — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 08:07:19 -0400

ABC News’ Mary Bruce (@marykbruce) Reports: After spending the weekend bracing for Hurricane Irene, President Obama will return to a schedule of closed-door meetings at the White House today. Obama spent the weekend meeting with his emergency response team and...

Irene Remains Dangerous, Obama Warns

ABCNews.com — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 17:46:41 -0400

ABC News' Tahman Bradley Reports: As a weakened but still dangerous Tropical Strom Irene pushes up the East Coast, President Obama urged Americans to remain vigilant. "I want people to understand that this is not over," Obama said in a...

"This Week" This Week -- 8/28/2011

ABCNews.com — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 15:31:39 -0400

We started with the latest details on Hurricane Irene’s move through the Northeast: Governor Chris Christie told us about Hurricane Irene’s impact on New Jersey: The FEMA director talked to us about the national response to Hurricane Irene: In our...

Obama Engaged in FEMA Response to Irene

ABCNews.com — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 12:55:27 -0400

ABC News' Tahman Bradley Reports: President Obama has received regular briefings about Hurricane Irene's impact. During the wet and windy weekend in Washington, senior advisors and cabinet officials have updated the president on the response and recovery effort taking place...

Top Al Qaeda Leader Killed, U.S. Govt. Says

ABCNews.com — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 15:07:20 -0400

ABC News' Tahman Bradley Reports: Al Qaeda's second-in-command, Atiyah Abd al-Rahman, has been killed, the Obama administration said Saturday. He was killed August 22 in Waziristan, Pakistan. Believing al-Rahman was deeply involved in directing al Qaeda operations, an administration official...

Obama Visits FEMA’s Hurricane Response Center

ABCNews.com — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 13:06:20 -0400

From Tahman Bradley: As Hurricane Irene's Category 1-force winds pounded the coast of North Carolina today, President Obama visited FEMA's National Response Coordination Center in Washington, D.C. After touring the facility, Obama shared what he's most worried about. "The biggest...

Obama Seeks Unity of 9/11: ‘Let’s Summon That Spirit Once More’

ABCNews.com — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 06:01:00 -0400

As the nation grapples with a lagging economy, and the destruction from Hurricane Irene, President Obama invoked the memory of Sept. 11, 2001, in his weekly address, calling on Americans to unite through acts of service in their communities.

White House Hosts Hundreds of Bowlers in May

ABCNews.com — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 18:58:02 -0400

At least 230 visitors to the White House during May came for the express purpose of bowling, according to visitor logs released today.

Boehner Says Obama Being Disingenuous on Regulatory Burdens

ABCNews.com — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:05:56 -0400

House Speaker John Boehner says President Obama’s public effort to curb government regulations belies reality, with 218 pending new rules poised to add billions in costs for American businesses and potentially hurt the creation of jobs.

Obama Cuts Short Martha's Vineyard Vacation for Hurricane Irene

ABCNews.com — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 13:05:10 -0400

President Obama will return to Washington, D.C., tonight, one day earlier than originally planned, White House officials said.

President Obama on Hurricane Irene: 'Take It Seriously. Don't Wait. Don't Delay.'

ABCNews.com — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 12:38:14 -0400

The words were stark and foreboding: “I cannot stress this highly enough: If you are in the projected path of this hurricane, you have to take precautions now. Don't wait. Don't delay,” President Obama warned this morning from the Blue Heron Farm here where he is wrapping up his 10-day vacation.

Trumka Tells Obama to Stop 'Nibbling Around the Edge' on Jobs

ABCNews.com — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:33:19 -0400

AFL/CIO President Richard Trumka today urged President Obama to put forth “bold solutions” to the nation’s unemployment crisis in his post-Labor Day jobs speech, warning of political peril if he’s seen as merely “nibbling around the edge” of the issue

Comcast Employees Top Donors to Obama Campaign Accounts

ABCNews.com — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:52:44 -0400

Employees of media giant Comcast have contributed more money to President Obama’s reelection bid than employees from any other organization, according to a new analysis of Federal Election Commission data by the Center for Responsive Politics.

Obama's 'Project Vote' Hones Focus on Minorities, Counters GOP Effort on Voter Laws

ABCNews.com — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:20:53 -0400

President Obama’s reelection campaign today launched a targeted voter outreach plan aimed at boosting registration and turnout among seven key minority constituencies for the 2012 election.

White House Weighs Mortgage Refinancing Programs

ABCNews.com — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:52:37 -0400

President Obama’s economic team is actively discussing several new ideas to help struggling homeowners, including another refinancing initiative for millions of government-backed mortgages and possible changes to existing refinancing programs, which heretofore have had only limited success.

Fewer See Improved Race Relations Under Obama

ABCNews.com — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 18:02:32 -0400

As President Obama prepares to commemorate the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., with a speech at a new King monument on the National Mall, fewer Americans than two years ago say they believe race relations have improved under the country’s first black president, according to a new Gallup survey.

Obama Campaign Hiring: Seeking ‘Head for Politics, A Sense of Humor, and Buckets of Common Sense’

ABCNews.com — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 14:41:14 -0400

If you’re an unemployed Democrat with a knack for Facebook and Twitter, President Obama’s reelection campaign may have a job for you.

What Does the President Think About the Criticism of His Vacation?

ABCNews.com — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 14:36:31 -0400

ABC News' David Kerley reports: Libya, earthquakes, and now a hurricane all during the President’s Martha’s Vineyard vacation. Conference calls on the golf course, reignited criticism from several quarters about the 10-day holiday on this island off of Massachusetts. So,...